“It’s just an incredible advantage for us to have.”
We are coming towards the closing straight of a season that has been memorable for Irish rugby and could get better yet.
Ireland are deserving Grand Slam champions and second best in the world while two provinces, Leinster and Munster, are in the Champions Cup semi finals and still in the hunt for Guinness PRO14 glory. Ulster may yet clinch Champions Cup rugby for next season but Connacht need more than their own results to go for them.
Up next for Ireland, when the regular season concludes, is a trip to Australia to take on Michael Cheika’s Wallabies. On The Hard Yards [from 5:00 below] a pretty convincing case for the inclusion of John Cooney on that summer tour was made.
“But you’ve got to look at the Ruan Pienaar decision now, using hindsight,” said former Leinster and Ireland flanker Kevin McLaughlin. “And where John Cooney might be if Ruan Pienaar was still in Ulster.
“We’ve now got four provinces and four top class Irish scrum-halves. And you compare that to our English and French counterparts where the majority of the top class half-backs are foreigners in the top teams. It’s just an incredible advantage for us to have and it’s painful for the provinces at the time but the IRFU are doing a good job of it.
“Cooney was man of the match [against Edinburgh] as well. He was man of the match, he’s been their best player all season hands down. He place kicks for them. He scores every second game. He makes breaks every single game. He’s really composed. He’s played at 10 for them.
“He’s been absolutely exceptional for them all season and it would not have happened if Ruan Pienaar had stayed. That was the thing, Ulster were absolutely going mental about it at the end of the season that we’ll never replace him and he’s come in and stepped up. Scrum half has been the least of their problems unfortunately this season.”
Cooney has been Ulster’s star man this season and was just behind Tiernan O’Halloran for that accolade with Connacht last season. He made his Ireland debut last summer and was in with the Ireland squad for training sessions during the Six Nations but should definitely tour Australia in June.
Cooney’s form is one compelling reason for Ireland coach Joe Schmidt to rest up first-choice No.9 Conor Murray. There are two more and both could argue that their cases for team selection are stronger than Cooney.
Kieran Marmion did himself plenty of favours in the Six Nations as Murray’s deputy and, not for the first time, he filled in on the wing in the closing stages of one tight game. He will feel a run at No.9 could be coming his way, Down Under, if he finishes the season well.
Best placed to stake his claim, however, is Leinster’s Luke McGrath. Having missed most of the Six Nations through injury, McGrath returned in time for the Champions Cup quarter final win over Saracens. Leinster’s success should reflect well on a 24-year-old who already backs himself to get the job done at Test level.
Murray may yet travel to Australia but, as James Downey did late last month, there is a string argument to be made for Schmidt resting both his star scrum-half and out-half, one Johnny Sexton. These are good times indeed.
